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photo by: Emma Delk

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines reviews the countyÀÏ˾»úÖ±²¥™s snow day policy during TuesdayÀÏ˾»úÖ±²¥™s board of education meeting.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines informed board of education members of the county’s current status regarding allotted snow days during Tuesday’s meeting.

The first five snow days in the county are traditional snow days due to the extra time built into each school day that is added to the calendar. With recent snow storms using up these five built-in days, Haines said the next snow day in the county will be a designated remote learning day.

After the five allotted snow days are used, the next five snow days in the county will all be designated as remote learning days. In addition to the county issuing iPads to students for remote learning days, Haines added that teachers have created snow day packets if a remote learning day coincides with power outages in the county.

“We have had ice storms in the past, so we want to be ready for the scenario that it’s a remote learning day on snow day seven and nobody has power,” Haines said. “We do have a number of our teachers that have made up some snow day packets, as well as sending home iPads, so we have a number of different options.”

After all 10 allotted snow days and remote learning days are used, Haines noted that the county begins removing days from the calendar.

“We haven’t had to do that for a few years and we hope we don’t have to do that,” Haines said.

The first day to be taken back is April 17, followed by April 21, April 30 and April 31. After these days are taken, Haines said school days will be added back onto the end of the calendar.

Haines said she had also received questions about whether any snow days would not be counted because outgoing Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency on Jan. 5 due to the snow event.

“Basically, (Justice) was preparing us to be able to get the National Guard out to help if needed, so the snow days will not be forgiven,” Haines said. The state superintendent (Michele Blatt) did clarify that for us because it was a question many superintendents were receiving.”

Haines said the decision to cancel or delay school due to snow or low temperatures was “not made lightly.” She noted that she, Transportation Director Jody Korn, bus drivers, maintenance workers, mechanics and custodians are on the roads to report their conditions beginning at 4:30 a.m., as they must be ready to decide whether school has to be canceled or delayed by 5:30 a.m.

“These are people out driving roads, and we have people stationed in different areas,” Haines said. “We have people stationed out at 5 a.m. at Sand Hill and Hilltop (elementary schools) due to the higher elevations and at other places that have steep roads.”

Haines added that Marshall County was “much more like Wetzel County geographically” than Ohio, Brooke and Hancock counties, which resulted in “many more” back roads and “many more” miles to cover.

“I appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding,” Haines said. “I feel like when I hear people saying, ‘Well when I was in school, we didn’t have as many snow days,’ I do hear people responding, ‘It isn’t like when you were in school.’ I appreciate those people as well. I want to thank the personnel who have worked so hard to help us make these snow-day decisions.”